Category Archives: Brass Vesta Case

Come and see us in our large gallery to view these art deco pieces and everything else you like. If you like anything you see on the website please let us know and we can arrange a viewing at our Canonbury Antiques Hertfordshire showroom. We are open on Saturday’s on the weekend and this is one of our most popular days. I guess as our customers are not working and can take time to fully browse and appreciate the Alladin’s Cave that is our showroom! We are open 10am to 5pm on Saturday’s so please let us know if you’d like to come by.

We are only 25 minutes north of London and are conveniently located right near where the A1 meets the M25. We are also accessible via train and the nearest station – Potters Bar – is just 15 minutes north of Kings Cross in central London. There is a minicab firm right outside the station or we can pick you up.

http://www.canonburyantiques.com/

We also have a large range of classic farmhouse furniture – large oak refectory tables and as before we have various chairs to match includingladderback, spindleback, Windsor chairs and Mary Tudor chairs. Again you can try these out for size and comfort in the Canonbury Antiques Hertfordshire showroom beofore making the final purchase.

Other specialities of ours includes art deco furniture of all types, large bronzes and architectural pieces, French and Asian porcelain, French furniture and English antiques. We can ship these goods to any part of the world so let us know if you’d like a shipping quote and we look forward to seeing you soon in leafy Hertfordshire.

Our main speciality is our range of classic English dining sets – Regency pedestal tables, Victorian dining tables, William IV in both mahogany and walnut. Around these tables we carry a whole range of matching dining chairs – Regency, Trafalgar, Chippendale, Queen Anne chairs to name a few. We can match up the perfect dining set for you to accommodate your tastes so you can try different chairs around different tables. Nothing beats sitting around these antique dining sets in person to try them out for comfort, style and size.

I have on offer a beautiful collectable hand painted brass vesta case. The paint work detail is wonderful, the subject is a long haired lad with a flower underneath. The vesta has an Art Nouveau shape to it and the art work has the same feel to it. A great collector’s piece. The vesta is in overall good shape for its age.

Dimensions: 6.2cm x 4.2cm

Vesta cases were introduced in the early 19th century following the manufacture of friction ‘lucifer’ matches in 1826. These matches could self ignite from the heat of friction, often explosively, and were dangerous if simply carried in the pocket. Vesta cases were composed of brass, gold, silver or silver plated cases just large enough to hold (and keep safe) a good number of matches. Vesta cases also prevented matches from becoming damp and useless.

The history of the match holder starts in the 19th century. When matches were invented in 1830, people immediately tried to think of how to transport these “dangerous” things. The first match holders were produced as early as 1835 and were made of wood; later iron and other materials were used. The simple match holders were made for the common people. Only the wealthy could afford expensive match holders.

Although vesta cases were restricted in size because of their function, their decoration varied enormously, from the very plain to the heavily embossed and chased decorated. The majority of vesta cases have a hinged cover and a ring loop attachment to allow suspension. I hope you enjoy browsing through our large array of beautiful Vesta cases on offer.

As smoking became increasingly fashionable and popular during the 19th& 20th Century small boxes and containers were made to house matches and to strike them. I have a lovely range of vesta cases in all sorts of differnt shapes and sizes sourced from all over the country and of the finest quality…..

I have on offer a beautiful collectable hand painted brass vesta case. The paint work detail is wonderful, the subject is a long haired lady who is smoking a cigarette. The vesta has an Art Nouveau design and colour. A great collector’s piece. The vesta is in overall good shape for its age.

Dimensions: 5.7cm x 4.4cm

Vesta cases were introduced in the early 19th century following the manufacture of friction ‘lucifer’ matches in 1826. These matches could self ignite from the heat of friction, often explosively, and were dangerous if simply carried in the pocket. Vesta cases were composed of brass, gold, silver or silver plated cases just large enough to hold (and keep safe) a good number of matches. Vesta cases also prevented matches from becoming damp and useless.

The history of the match holder starts in the 19th century. When matches were invented in 1830, people immediately tried to think of how to transport these “dangerous” things. The first match holders were produced as early as 1835 and were made of wood; later iron and other materials were used. The simple match holders were made for the common people. Only the wealthy could afford expensive match holders.

Although vesta cases were restricted in size because of their function, their decoration varied enormously, from the very plain to the heavily embossed and chased decorated. The majority of vesta cases have a hinged cover and a ring loop attachment to allow suspension. I hope you enjoy browsing through our large array of beautiful Vesta cases on offer.